AMERICA - CELAM presidency voices solidarity with Venezuelan Bishops: may the Lord “continue to fortify the prophetic role of Bishops at this time”

Tuesday, 13 November 2007

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - A letter of solidarity with the Bishops of Venezuela, attacked for expressing their moral opinion on constitutional reforms (see Fides 22/10/2007; 31/10/2007; 12/11/2007)) has been addressed to the Venezuelan Bishops' Conference by the presidency of the Council of Latin American Bishops' Conferences CELAM, at present in Rome for meetings with representatives of Holy See offices.
The Letter signed by CELAM president and secretary general respectively, Archbishop. Raymundo Damasceno Assis of Aparecida, and Bishop Victor Sánchez Espinosa, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Mexico says that CELAM follows "with deep interest and a spirit of solidarity the present process of constitutional in Venezuela."
The Letter addressed to Archbishop Ubaldo Santana of Maracaibo, president of the Bishops Conference of Venezuela, supports the statement "Called to Live in Freedom" published by the Venezuelan Bishops on 20 October to illuminate from a moral point of view, opinions and decisions on the constitutional reforms (see Fides 22/10/2007). "despite a constructive tone and intention to offer a contribution - the letter continues - we see certain sectors have launched atacks and insults to denigrate and undervalues the opinion expressed and question the role of Bishops as guides for the faithful ".
CELAM presidency manifests full solidarity and calls on God to help "those involved in this mission to orient the destiny of the nation, to tolerance and dialogue, to find paths of development and social justice". CELAM asks the Lord to continue to encourage and fortify the “the prophetic role of Bishops at this time to orient the People of God on the path to peace ". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 13/11/2007: righe 25, parole 333)


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